The Alarming Statistics You Need to Know About Running a Stop Sign or Red Light
Created by the Federal Highway Administration in 1995, the first full week of August is Stop on Red Week (8/2-8/8 2026). This campaign is designed to educate the public about the number and severity of intersection crashes caused by running a stop sign or red light.
The statistics are alarming: Road traffic accidents cause approximately 1.3 million deaths every year, with 20 to 50 million more people suffering nonfatal injuries, with many incurring a disability as a result of their injury. Running red lights and stop signs is a significant contributor to these numbers, making this campaign critical for saving lives.
Running Red-Light Accident Statistics
When a driver makes a choice to speed through a red light, they are putting their life as well as the lives of their passengers, other drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists in danger. This split-second decision can lead to severe collisions, often resulting in catastrophic injuries or fatalities. In fact, running a red light or other traffic control resulting in red light accidents is the most common cause of all crashes in urban areas.
According to a report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), in 2023, 1,086 people were killed in crashes that involved red light running. Half of those killed were pedestrians, bicyclists and people in other vehicles who were hit by drivers running a red light. In that same year, more than 135,000 people were injured in red light running collisions.
Running a Stop Sign Accident Statistics
Failing to stop at a stop sign can have devastating consequences. Drivers who roll through or ignore stop signs may enter intersections without yielding the right-of-way to other drivers, which can create confusion and increase the risk of dangerous side-impact and head-on collisions. In addition to causing significant property damage, these crashes can result in serious injuries or fatalities.
Nearly 700,000 police-reported motor vehicle crashes occur annually at stop signs, and approximately one-third of these crashes involve injuries. Many of these collisions occur at two-way stop-controlled intersections, where drivers misjudge gaps in traffic or fail to come to a complete stop.
The Dangers of Intersection Crashes
While intersections are absolutely necessary to help people share the road and get to where they need to go, they do create conflict points where crashes can occur. In fact, each year about one–quarter of traffic fatalities and about one–half of all traffic injuries in the United States are attributed to intersections. In 2022, there were a total of 42,514 traffic fatalities, and 12,036 of these deaths occurred in intersection collisions.
Common injuries from intersection crashes:
- Whiplash and other neck injuries
- Concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Chest and rib injuries
- Internal organ damage and internal bleeding
- Cuts, bruises, and lacerations
- Facial injuries and dental damage
- Shoulder, arm, and wrist injuries
- Knee, leg, ankle, and foot injuries
- Paralysis
- Fatalities
If you or a loved one was injured in a red-light running or running a stop-sign accident, schedule a free consultation with an experienced, local car accident attorney. Personal injury lawyers handle injury claims from start to finish. They can help gather evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent clients in court, if necessary, to ensure their client receives a full and fair settlement.
Seek the Help of a Car Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one was injured in a collision because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
